As a livestock producer, if there’s one thing that someone says that is sure to start a real conversation, it’s calling livestock sentient beings. And I say that because I have watched a sheep unceremoniously step on her dead “friend” to get better feed at the feed rack, with no qualms. If an animal is… Read More
Category: Pork
One of Canada’s largest pork production and meat companies is planning to split into two independent businesses. Mississauga, Ont.-based Maple Leaf Foods is proposing to spin off its pork business and focus on consumer packaged protein food operations, creating two independent publicly-traded companies. Maple Leaf Foods would “continue to pursue its vision to be the… Read More
The Government of Canada has committed $9.6 million to help the Canadian pork industry to prevent and prepare for a possible African swine fever (ASF) outbreak. ASF is a viral disease that only impacts pigs. While it has not been found in Canada to date, as it spreads around the globe, it poses a significant… Read More
Exports from Canada face growing uncertainty as governments around the world look inward in an effort to gain votes. Whether it’s the collapse of the World Trade Organization’s dispute settlement process, individual countries introducing new technical trade barriers, or politicians deploying subsidies and tariffs in the name of more domestic jobs, the world is generally… Read More
Monday, U.S. ag secretary Tom Vilsack released the final wording of the “Product of U.S.A.” label requirements as it relates to several products, including beef and pork. Though voluntary, the rule is as restrictive — or more — than the mandatory country of origin labeling (mCOOL) requirements that spawned years and years of trade disputes… Read More
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the final rule for meat, poultry, and egg products that carry a “Product of the USA” label at the National Farmers Union’s annual convention in Phoenix on Monday. As previously proposed, the label will be voluntary, but any company that uses it will have to maintain documentation to prove… Read More
The possibility that Canadian cattle and beef will face market discrimination if the U.S. government moves ahead with a new labeling rule is one of the main concerns representatives from the Canadian Cattle Association (CCA) are raising while meeting with American counterparts at the 2024 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show in Orlando, Florida…. Read More
The private member’s bill that aims to reduce the risk of biosecurity breaches from trespassers on farms has received final approval in the House of Commons. Bill C-275, brought forward by Conservative shadow minister for agriculture John Barlow, would update the Health of Animals Act to make it an offence to enter a place where… Read More
Olymel is closing two processing plants: a pork plant in Quebec and a poultry plant in Ontario. The Paris, Ont., poultry further processing plant will close and all production will be moved to another Olymel plant at Oakville, around 75 kilometres north-east of Paris. The closure impacts 93 employees, with their final day of work… Read More
National cattle and meat industry organizations find themselves in a strange predicament, calling on the Canadian government to delay its approval for a trade deal. The Canadian Cattle Association, Canadian Meat Council, and National Cattle Feeders’ Association — normally in favour of new trade agreements — launched a campaign called “Say No to A Bad… Read More